Summer Food Fest Fun Around the U.S.

By Ethel Tiersky

Jun 21, 2012

Ah, dining al fresco--with a buttery corn cob in one hand and a giant turkey leg in the other --while strolling outdoors from one food vendor to the next --that summer tradition pleases almost everyone (except grouches who hate standing in lines).

Of course, food fests do more than give people an excuse to breathe in the summer air and gorge themselves on too many edibles. They're also an opportunity for communities to show off the produce grown in their area, the food(s) they're famous for, and/or specialties from their well-known restaurants. Food festivals are marketing tools as well as entertainment, but that doesn't make them any less enjoyable.

From the list below, you may find one or two you'd consider adding to your summer itinerary because they're huge or unusual or just because they sound mouth-watering. If our comments whet your appetite, check out the website of that particular festival for details. If none of the festivals listed below are anywhere near your home or vacation destination, check out About.com for a longer list of summer fests. If you live within a few hundred miles of a major festival, it will probably be featured in your local newspaper and on your local TV news.

JULY FESTIVALS

Taste of Chicago (JULY 11-15):

Not only is this Chicago's biggest summer food fest; it's also the world's largest, according to About.com. It offers more than 300 menu items from more than 70 area restaurants and vendors. Because Chicago is an ethnically diverse city, the food offerings are, too.

In addition to food to purchase, there are musical events, cooking demonstrations performed by the city's most famous chefs and wine experts, and the Family Village and Fun Time Stage with activities and entertainment for kids.

Mattoon Bagelfest (July 17-21 in Mattoon, IL):

If you're in Illinois for Taste of Chicago, stay in the state and visit the Bagelfest. According to the Chicago Tribune, Mattoon is the self-declared "Bagel Capital of the World" because it's the home of the Lender's bagel factory. What can you do there besides eat bagels? There's a beauty pageant, a bagel baby contest, a carnival, bingo, a beer tent, and performances by local talent.

Slugburger Festival (July 12-14 in Corinth, Mississippi):

This year marks the 25th anniversary of the Slugburger Festival. What's a slugburger? It contains meat, soy, and--sorry, the spices are secret ingredients so you can't duplicate it at home or open your own slugburger restaurant. But here's the switch: it's not grilled; it's deep-fried. Fear not. It contains no slugs. The name comes from its Depression-era origins, when this delicious item could be purchased for a nickel (a slug). The festival has live entertainment and carnival rides.

AUGUST FESTIVALS

Maine Lobster Festival (August 1-5) in Rockland, Maine

The sea and the lobster are the highlights here, but the pancake breakfast also includes Maine blueberries. Starting at 11 a.m. a lobster dinner is served, featuring fresh-from-the sea lobsters. Kids can enter the lobster-eating contest, and they'll l like the stilt walker, the sea goddess, King Neptune, and the big parade.

There are craft demonstrations and entertainment AND a lobster crate race. What's this? Here's how the festival's website describes it: "An extremely popular and fun event, contestants from all over the world take a shot at navigating a string of 50 partially submerged lobster crates. The winner is the person who runs the most crates before falling into the chilly Atlantic ocean." To see a photo of a boy giving it a try, click here.

Hope Watermelon Festival (August 9-12 in Hope, Arkansas)

Hope, Arkansas has two claims to fame: 1) It's the birthplace of President Clinton; and 2) It's known for growing watermelons, especially very large ones. In 2005, it produced one that weighed 268.8 lbs! The following year, the Guinness Book of World Records certified that watermelon as the world's largest.

It's no surprise then, that the watermelon is the star of Hope's summer festival. Sure, you can enjoy a slice of watermelon there. But the watermelon is featured in many other ways, too. One highlight of this festival is the Watermelon Olympics, which pits teams against each other in such events as the watermelon toss.

The fair also has nearly 300 arts and crafts booths, dozens of food booths, musical talent, a dog show, and an antique car show. About 50,000 visitors come to Hope for this festival over its four-day period.

SEPTEMBER FESTIVAL

Spinach Festival (September 8 in Lenexa, Kansas)

This is a one-day event the weekend after Labor Day, but it's still officially summer, so, of course, everyone craves spinach. Well, maybe not everyone. Your kids or grandkids may not be too excited at the prospect of attending this one--until you mention that there are special kids' activities, AND they'll be able to meet Popeye and Olive Oyl. For a mere $1 entrance fee, the youngest festival attendees can try to crawl their way to victory in the Swee' pea Baby Crawling Contest.

Those a bit older will find ample opportunities to spend money purchasing high-quality handmade crafts and antiques. When the cash runs out, visitors can enjoy music and entertainment plus a recipe contest (which I presume relates to spinach). Spinach cheese pie, anyone?

FALL FESTIVAL

Suffolk Peanut Festival (October 4-7 in Suffolk, Virginia)

I know this isn't summer, but I'm listing it anyway because it sounds so great. Check out the website: http://www.suffolkfest.org/history.aspx

WARNINGS ABOUT SUMMER FOOD FESTS

Expenses:

Some festivals charge an admission fee. Check out the cost before going. Also, the food and drink may be expensive. Be prepared for that, perhaps at least by bringing along some beverages and snack food. At a food fair, kids will want to eat constantly.

Safety:

Consumer Reports on Health says the following: "Food served at street fairs, festivals, and barbecues brings a surge in cases of food poisoning." What can you do to sidestep illness without missing the fun of these outdoor events? The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has provided online guidance--everything from watching how food vendors are handling food to bringing your own food to save money and stay safe. Tips on how to keep the food you bring in at the proper temperature are also in the article. To reach the CDC article, click here. To reach the Shelf Life Advice article on keeping your cooler cool, click here.

It's easy for kids to get lost in the crowd. Plan a family meeting place or provide kids with other instructions about what to do if they lose sight of you. Giving older kids a cell phone may help.

Source(s):

explorechicago.org “Taste of Chicago”

http://www.explorechicago.org/city/en/supporting_narrative/events___special_events/special_events/mose/taste_of_chicago.html

about.com "Taste of Chicago 2012"

http://gochicago.about.com/od/tasteofchicago/p/taste_chicago.htm

culinarytravel.about.com "Food and Wine events"

http://culinarytravel.about.com/od/foodwineevents/u/FoodWineEvents.htm

mattoonbagelfest.com "Mattoon Bagelfest 2012"

http://www.mattoonbagelfest.com/

festing.com "Slugburger Festival Details"

http://www.festing.com/detail.cfm?festid=30990

hopechamberofcommerce.com "Hope Watermelon Festival"